Tuesday, 30 April 2019 FNB Joburg 10K CITYRUN entries open this weekEntries for the 4th annual FNB Joburg 10K CITYRUN (taking place on Tuesday, 24 September 2019 / National Heritage Day) will open on Wednesday, 01 May 2019 #RunJoburgYourWay.

“What better way to celebrate National Heritage Day than to be part of the action of the FNB Joburg 10K CITYRUN,” says Michael Meyer, Managing Director Stillwater Sports. “Like its sister events, the FNB Cape Town 12 ONERUN and FNB Durban 10K CITYSURFRUN, the FNB Joburg 10K CITYRUN celebrates the magnificence of its host city. We invite all residents to join thousands of runners and walkers at a 10km event that supports the regeneration of this vibrant city. Enjoy the route, take in the surroundings, the on route entertainment and the overall vibe. We look forward to welcoming all to the start line.”

Bonga Sebesho, Head of Sponsorships at FNB says, “The FNB Joburg 10K CITYRUN has grown substantially over the years to become a must attend event for thousands of our customers, families, walkers, beginners and experienced runners from all walks of life. We encourage Joburgers and all running health enthusiasts to join us again this year for a fun and equally stimulating running experience.”

EVENT INFORMATION: 2019 FNB Joburg 10K CITYRUNStarting in front of FNB Bank City, runners (and walkers) will be treated to a 10km route experience that will highlight iconic landmarks and feature lively performances by a host of Joburg’s leading performing arts groups. Iconic landmarks to look out for will include: the Nelson Mandela Bridge, FNB Bank City, Constitution Hill, Mary Fitzgerald Square, Wits University and Ellis Park Stadium to mention just a few.

Monday, 15 April 2019FNB Run Your City Series introduces single-use plastic management campaignThe organisers of the FNB Run Your City Series have announced that they will be implementing a Single-Use Plastic (SUP) Management Campaign that aims to drastically reduce the usage of single-use plastics by 85% at all three events which includes the: FNB Cape Town 12 ONERUN (Sunday, 19 May 2019), FNB Joburg 10K CITYRUN (Tuesday, 24 September 2019) and FNB Durban 10K CITYSURFRUN (Sunday, 13 October 2019).

“Our ultimate goal is to host a mass participation road running series that is plastic free and highlights the splendour of its host city while celebrating its people, their talent and the amazing sport,” says Michael Meyer, Managing Director Stillwater Sports. “We are proud to announce that our event sponsors share our excitement for this campaign. In turn, they too will play their part in reducing and ultimately eliminating the usage of single-use plastic at the events.”

“Single-use plastics are used only once before they are thrown away or, on a more positive note, recycled. These items include plastic bags, straws, coffee stirrers, soda and water bottles and most food packaging,” says Agne du Plessis, Stillwater Sports General Manager: Road Running. “As part of our campaign we have teamed up with #RunClean and will be implementing strict ‘litter zones’ to ensure a litter free route, while with #ICarryMyOwn we will encourage runners to be self-sustained by running with a hydration pack and/or water bottle. We would like to invite all entrants to support our campaign, help keep our cities clean so that you can #RunYourCityYourWay.”

Other ways in which the events will be reducing single-use plastic usage:

Gaining support of event partner to eliminate single-use plastic usage.

Water Stations:The number of water points on route will be reduced from 3 to 2 at the 5km and 10km marks, 2.85% less plastic water sachets at water points, use recyclable paper cups instead.

As part of their entry all runners will receive a DHL running water bottle. Don’t forget to bring your bottle with on race day to be part of our #ICarryMyOwn Campaign.

Encouraging runners to run with a hydration pack and/or water bottle. Be self-sufficient #ICarryMyOwn
Refill stations for water bottles will be allocated at the start and along the route.

There will be designated Litter Zones with litter pens to keep the route litter free #RunClean

EVENT INFORMATION: FNB Run Your City Series

Date:

Event:

Sunday, 19 May 2019

FNB Cape Town 12 ONERUN

Tuesday, 24 September 2019

FNB Joburg 10K CITYRUN

Sunday, 13 October 2019

FNB Durban 10K CITYSURFRUN

FNB Run Your City Series “City Clean Up”:

The FNB Run Your City Series organises a “City Clean Up” in each host city the week prior to the event. The goal is to educate the population on the importance of a litter free city, while encouraging the community to get involved.

Thursday, 04 April 2019FNB Run Your City Series continues to revolutionize the South African Road Running Platform

SA’s road running platform received a positive boost in 2015, with the launch of what would become the Cape’s premier 12km road run, the FNB Cape Town 12 ONERUN, an event that proudly caters for both elite runners as well as the mass field.

The FNB Cape Town 12 ONERUN provides all the fun and entertainment that the bulk of the field desires, but at the front end, it also provides racing of the highest calibre ever seen in races that are shorter than the traditional marathon and ultra-marathons that are so prevalent in South Africa.

An international contingent was added to the mix. The headline name was that of Vivian Cheruiyot, a then four-time World Champion and two-time Olympic silver medallist (who has since then added a World Championship and Olympic title to her name), arguably the greatest runner to race in South Africa. Cheruiyot duly delivered, smashing the 12km in 38:22 (still a course record).

“We wanted to create an event that highlighted the splendour of its host city, while giving runners of all fitness levels the opportunity to partake in a road running experience like no other,” says Michael Meyer, Managing Director Stillwater Sports. “Entrants can look forward to spectacular routes that highlight important landmarks, feature magnificent views and boast exciting on route entertainment. We are, however, very aware of the fact that South Africa has incredible depth and potential at the front end. We need to give them a chance to race the best in the world, but on home soil. This eliminates issues of travel. They can perform in front of their home crowd and be rewarded for it. For SA athletes to make the jump to the next level they need deep, international competition at home.”

Year one was a resounding success with thousands of runners standing on the start line in Milnerton including the likes of Vivian Cheruiyot and Emmanuel Bett putting the race firmly on the international road running scene.

2016 saw the FNB Joburg 10K CITYRUN being added to the portfolio which once again attracted huge masses and elite athletes to the tough route designed.

In 2017 Morris Gachaga smashed the World Best time for the unusual 12km distance at the FNB Cape Town 12 ONERUN, clocking 33:27 and taking four seconds off the previous best. The series moved to Johannesburg for the second running of the FNB Joburg 10K CITYRUN which again attracted an impressive field. The Joburg run saw the emergence of South Africans Thabang Mosiako and Glenrose Xaba.

Adding to the excitement in 2017 was the birth of the FNB Durban 10K CITYSURFRUN. A top international field and all the best runners in South Africa were contracted with the headline name being that of World 10 000m silver medallist, Joshua Cheptegei of Uganda.

“South Africa deserves to see the world’s best compete on our soil, racing against South Africa’s best,” continues Meyer. “This raises the level of competition for our athletes, in turn raising the performance of our South African athletes. When these athletes line up in international races, they can do so with confidence. Our athlete’s standards improve and South Africa gets to see the world’s best live.”

South Africa’s Stephen Mokoka’s eyes lit up at the prospect of facing the likes of Cheptegei. “Joshua is a very good racer. I competed against him in London at the World Championships in the 10 000m where he finished just behind Mo Farah. It is great that Stillwater Sports is bringing this calibre of athletes to South Africa. It inspires us.” This prompted Mokoka to make an attempt on his National 10km record which in turn had the organizers dangling a record incentive of R300 000 for the first South African athlete to break the National Record and R500 000 for a World Record.

Cheptegei’s attempt at the world’s fastest time was ruined thanks to an unusual headwind on the day. He nevertheless flew to a 27:29 win – the fastest ever run on South African soil. The women’s race saw Mercyline Chalangat clock 31:38 for one of the fastest times seen in South Africa in years.

A stacked field in the 2018 FNB Cape Town 12 ONERUN saw defending champion, Morris Gachaga pace for a win rather than chase his record. The diminutive Kenyan held off a strong challenge from countryman Victor Chumo while the women’s race saw little known Jacklyn Chepngeno take line honours over her more fancied fellow Ugandan, Stella Chesang who had just won the Commonwealth Games 10 000m title.

The FNB Joburg 10K CITYRUN saw an international contingent line up for the first time, elevating the race’s status. It was the Eritrean Filmon Ande who came up trumps, destroying the course record by 22 seconds, clocking an astonishing 29:27 and dragging the top three under the previous record. South African Irvette van Zyl obliterated the previous women’s record by two minutes. Van Zyl had given birth to her second son in June that year, making her performance even more remarkable.

The final race of the year was the FNB Durban 10K CITYSURFRUN. Joshua Cheptegei was back to defend his title. He did more than that, he took 13seconds off his own course record, set a national record, ran the second fastest time of the year and the 16th fastest time ever. In the process he dragged Julien Wanders to a Swiss National Record (27:36). Van Zyl came close to dipping 32min, narrowly missing out by finishing third behind Stella Chesang (31:14) and Mercyline Chalangat (31:33). Van Zyl crossed the line in 32:06.

2019 will be even bigger and better as the series continually strives to improve. It was announced earlier this year that the FNB Cape Town 12 ONERUN had been awarded the IAAF Bronze Label Status, meaning greater exposure for the race on the global stage, stronger international competition and more incentives for local athletes.